A Significant Decrease in Foodborne Outbreaks Since Course Mandated By the Nassau County Board of Health

Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi announced that the 3,000th food service worker has successfully completed the Nassau County Department of Health Foodservice Managers Training Course since it was mandated by the Nassau County Board of Health two years ago. The graduate is Lawrence L’Hommedieu of Maple Point Assisted Living in Rockville Centre.

“By offering this service,” said County Executive Suozzi, “ the Health Department not only provides valuable training to over 5,500 businesses, but also provides an important step in protecting the health of our residents.

In our busy lifestyles, with more and more residents dining out or eating food prepared for them, it is more essential than ever to train food workers in the safe handling and sanitary preparation of food.”

Since July 2003, when the Board of Health mandated the course for all Nassau County full service restaurants, there has been a significant decrease in the number of foodborne outbreaks recorded by the Department of Health: from an average of 160 incidents per year to about 110 per year for the past two years.

Twenty-four years ago, the Nassau County was one of the first jurisdictions to offer a formal, but voluntary, food safety training course in order to reduce the likelihood of foodborne illnesses at food service establishments.

The food safety training curriculum covers various aspects of sanitation and safety including:

• Safe food preparation
• Personal hygiene for food workers
• Correct storage, cooking and holding practices
• Insect and rodent control
• Proper cleaning

The course is 10 hours long and generally held mornings for either 4 or 5 days for 2 to 2.5 hours per day. Handout materials and final examinations are available in English, Chinese and Spanish. Upon satisfactory completion of the course, a certificate is issued and must be publicly displayed in the food service establishment. Certificates expire after three years, but can be renewed by attending a three-hour refresher class.

The Long Island Chapter of the New York State Restaurant Association offers a one-day, 9-hour course, equivalent to that of the Nassau County Department of Health.

For additional information or to register for an upcoming Food Managers Training Course, please call weekdays from 9:00 a.m. – 4:45p.m. at (516) 571-3680.